Barber Shop Sydney - The Detail For Men Experience

The Modern Sydney Barber Shop

Many men today are not satisfied with the common unisex hair salon experience. Tired of being treated like a number, frustrated with the level of customer service, and disappointed by the skill of the hairdresser, such men are now seeking a more traditional barber shop in Sydney - a hair salon designed just for men.

The traditional barber shop we think of most commonly (from the 1940s) was all about men having a place where they were treated like a king. A familiar yet luxurious establishment where they could relax with a drink, receive focused one-on-one attention for their hair and beard, smoke a cigar and feel at home. We like to think of Detail for Men as the modern Sydney barber shop - minus the cigars.

When you arrive atDetail For Men for your hair appointment, you will be offered a complimentary beverage. You will then be assigned a stylist who is responsible for learning more about you and your specific hair situation. They'll work with you to understand what your frustrations are, what "look" you're trying to achieve and what you've tried so far, so they are better informed before they start working on your hair.

If you're like most of our customers, you'll come to appreciate the fact that your assigned stylist will greet you the next time you return to the salon. This saves you from having to "start again" with new stylists who are not familiar with your hair history.

We invite you to book a session with Detail For Men so you can decide for yourself whether we are the best barber shop Sydney has to offer.

If you're curious about the history of barbershops, we've created a brief overview for you below - including a video summary. We hope you find it interesting.

History Of the Barber Shop

Barbering services date back as far as ancient Egypt (during the Bronze Age). It is believed Egyptian nobles had their hair cut using primitive tools created out of oyster shells and sharpened flint.

Barber-Surgeons

During the middle ages (circa 900 AD), barbers added new services to their hair-cutting and hair-dressing repertoire: they were known as barber-surgeons, because they also dressed wounds and carried out surgical operations! Barbers initially helped the monks - the traditional doctors - because of Papal rulings stating the members of religious orders were unable to spill blood. Early barbers therefore performed surgery and medical procedures including cleaning ears, draining boils, bloodletting and leeching, teeth extraction and even enemas.

Origin of the Barber Pole

The barber pole was first introduced during the middle ages - in most countries it was red and white, but in the United States it also included the colour blue.

The red and white colouring was associated with the service of bloodletting (red) and bandages (white). Original barber's poles included a brass wash basin at the top which symbolised the housing of leeches, and another at the bottom to symbolise the capturing of the blood.

A pole was originally used by barber-surgeons to keep the patient's arm in a horizontal position, with a bandage wrapped around it.

Wig Makers

During the second half the 18th century, barbers became skilled at making spectacular and elegant wigs, of many different colours and designs. The most expensive were made from human hair, with animal hair and cotton being used for cheaper alternatives. Wigs stopped being popular however after the French Revolution.

The Birth of the Traditional Barber Shop

Any medicinal aspect of barbering was removed from the profession in the mid 19th century, with hair care being the sole focus. Barbers once again enjoyed social prestige, with new regulations introduced to make the industry more credible and reliable. After the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), barbering became more in demand due to high immigration from countries like Holland, Sweden, Italy and Germany. Beards also become popular during this time. It cost around $20 to setup a barber shop during the 19th century. Most were just 10 feet by 12 feet. They were fitted out with a straight-backed barber's chair with a head rest, a basin of water, a piece of soap, a brush and towels. One towel would be used for up to 12 customers. A typical barber shop hair cut would cost 5c or 10c, with shaves costing 3c.

Barber School & Barber License Introduced

A.B. Moler established the world's first Barber School in Chicago in 1893, also publishing textbooks to help his students. Four years later the state of Minnesota passed a law for a barber license. Other states introduced similar laws over the next four decades. Barber shops were frequently inspected for sterilisation, an important step because it helped to prevent the spread of disease.

20th Century Modern Barber Shops

Barbershops of the 20th century were exclusively for men OR women. As men started to grow their hair longer (including sideburns and perms) in the 1970s, most traditional men's barber shops were not experienced or equipped to service these customers.

A common response to this problem was for a barber to expand their clientele to offer services to both men AND women. The 1980s saw "unisex" hair salons become popular, with most salons offering hairdressing services to both sexes in the 1990s.

The Sydney Barber Shop Today

Many people today still think of a barber shop in the traditional sense, as per the picture on this page. While the services have changed, and smoking in the barber shop has long since been removed, it is still possible to receive the high quality one-on-one service provided back in the 1940's.

Some people think of us as the modern Sydney barber shop. Make an appointment with us today to find out if the Detail For Men experience is for you.

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